Memory Lane Southend Town Centre

[AndyT]

I thought there might be a thread already of youtube clips of the town in bygone eras. but I couldn't find one.

I stumbled across the below photos of The Royals area of the high street, before The Royals was built. I used to have a mate who worked in the fish tackle shop right at the top of Pier Hill, so often popped in there. Anyway, hopefully there's a few more Southend videos to add to the below, so there's a thread of nostalgic stuff for the forum :-

 

[kaymac]

Changed just a bit over the last 30 years, not necessarily for the better. Had a friend who was a waitress in Presto's cafe.

 

[OldBlueLady]

The Ros Southend group on FB is great for memories. Anyone know what that big old red brick house was? I don't remember it at all. We used to have our dentists above Nat West, used to go up and alley to the left of the bank and round and up some stairs there.

 

[AndyT]

Good question on that house. Not sure myself.

I know, in the 70's there was the cinema there, The Ritz?, near the church and also some residential plots next to it, from memory.

 

[Mad Cyril]

I still drink in Drummonds.

 

[Mad Cyril]

I loved Going Bros.

20 lugworm, a crossbow and some ninja throwing stars please.

 

[AndyT]

Anyone know what that big old red brick house was? I don't remember it at all.

Looking at the geography of the photos, that looks like the plot that is now where Primark is, I think, so opposite where the bus station now is. There must have therefore been a road that ran through where the central walkway in The Royals is (i.e) as you enter from the bus station side of The Royals.

 

[THE SEVENTIES NORTH BANK]

Good question on that house. Not sure myself.

I know, in the 70's there was the cinema there, The Ritz?, near the church and also some residential plots next to it, from memory.

Yes it was the Ritz. The residential plots you're talking about was probably the road going from the Ritz corner with houses both sides. It was a good short cut to get more choice of busses. I think the road was called Grove Road.

 

[AndyT]

Great photos, Seventies.

Yep, that's the road I was thinking must have existed in my post above yours.

The memories are starting to come back now of that area before the demolition.

 

[AndyT]

Looking at the film showing "The Moon Spinners" dates those photos to 1964, I think.

 

[THE SEVENTIES NORTH BANK]

The Ritz cinema by the way was converted to a Top Rank bingo hall in the early Seventies, and later sold to become the Invicta bingo hall before closing down and empty for a few years.

 

[AndyT]

Of course. I remember now when it was a bingo hall.

Presumably around the time The Odeon changed from a concert venue to a cinema.

 

[Yorkshire Blue]

Looking at the geography of the photos, that looks like the plot that is now where Primark is, I think, so opposite where the bus station now is. There must have therefore been a road that ran through where the central walkway in The Royals is (i.e) as you enter from the bus station side of The Royals.

http://www.southendtimeline.com/theroyals.htm

 

[AndyT]

Perfect. Thanks, YB.

So, that house was on the corner plot of Heygate Avenue, between Grove Road and Church Road, by my reckoning.

 

[OldBlueLady]

I remember the Ritz but don't remember the road alongside it (Grove Road) at all, although I do obviously remember it being on a corner.

 

[AndyT]

I didn't remember that road either, OBL.

I seemd to recall The Ritz was on the corner of a small almost square like area with the Palace Hotel next door.

 

[Tangled up in Blue]

I didn't remember that road either, OBL.

I seemd to recall The Ritz was almost on the corner of a small almost square like area with the Palace Hotel next door.

Yes.Can certainly remember delivering letters there to Motel Burstin (the owner and ex-Labour Party parliamentary candidate for Southend East ) ,when I was on the Xmas post back in the early 70's.

 

[AndyT]

Yes it was the Ritz. The residential plots you're talking about was probably the road going from the Ritz corner with houses both sides. It was a good short cut to get more choice of busses. I think the road was called Grove Road.

In that bottom photo, what's that beautiful looking building facing the seafront and the other side of the road opposite The Ritz?

Looks a fantastic place.

 

[AndyT]

It's this place, it transpires.

The Grand Pier Hotel.

Sometimes you just shouldn't demolish certain things!

 

[AndyT]

I guess people have seen these, but the EAFA have some extraordinary stuff here, below, especially from the 1920's and 1930's :-

http://www.eafa.org.uk/search.aspx#&&page=2&navid=&tagid=846,,,&psize=10